To all of you from Redding and the surrounding communities: Let me just say thank you for the support and appreciation through these tough and challenging things that have happened through these last days.

So many of you have been so kind and supportive in spite of the fact that so many of you have lost so much. We’ve fought together, we’ve lost together, we’ve grieved together, and we’ve succeeded together.

Thanks go to:

The waitresses over at Bella’s.

Margi who was forced out of her house and waited so patiently to get back in

Joe who was so thankful when all I did was go check on his house.

The young man at base camp handing out the wooden tokens.

The gentleman at The Fly Shop who gave me two hats to take back to my boys.

The young ladies on their horses proudly displaying the American flags as we left base camp in the mornings.

The young man and his grandpa standing by the railroad tracks waving as all the engines drove by.

And to so many more of you for the kindness and generosity you have shown.

To Mr. Bledsoe, I am so sorry for your loss, a loss so great that few could ever comprehend. I know it’s probably of little consolation.

But I, among many others, would have given anything to have been able to be in the right place at the right time to have saved your precious family. I have no words of comfort for you, except the words my parents put on my brother’s headstone when he tragically passed away at four: “Safe in the arms of Jesus.”

I won’t be here when you begin the long hard road of rebuilding, but I have no doubt, with what I’ve seen, that you will come together as a community and a family to get it done.

Thank you, Redding. You have humbled, inspired and motivated me during these hard times. I will never forget you and the grace you have shown through all of this.

Stephen Link is a firefighter with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.